Jared Leys
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Jared Leys
@jaredleys.bsky.social
700 followers 480 following 1.9K posts
Ducks | Books | Hibiscus
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Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · Mar 4
Hibiscus Tea is out today!

26 poems of love, loss, and what was brewed among the leaves.
Hibiscus Tea by Jared Leys front cover. A green with white stripes tea cup sits on a reddish-purple background. The tea bag tag has a hibiscus flower. The steam rising from the cup is covered in black scribbles, as if it was covered over. The title is set in this darkness. The author’s name is below the cup.
jaredleys.bsky.social
Duck of the day! This is a Cayuga duck. Photo by guvo59.
Cayuga duck
December 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Microfiction Monday is on again next week, December 15!

The prompt for this week will be “Long day”.

If you would like to be tagged on future Microfiction Monday posts, please let me know.
a black and white photo of a man sitting in front of a tv that says tvland classic
ALT: a black and white photo of a man sitting in front of a tv that says tvland classic
media.tenor.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Jared Leys
termiteterraceclub.bsky.social
"Daffy Duck in Hollywood" (1938), directed by Tex Avery.

Released on December 3, 1938.

Daffy runs amok on a movie lot in one of his early color appearances. It is also the last Daffy short directed by Tex.
#LooneyTunes
December 10, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Reposted by Jared Leys
fruitbatwoman.bsky.social
I am a day late (I missed it yesterday because I am sick), but here is my entry for #MicrofictionMonday: THE MACHINE.
Welcome to the MACHINE. With the MACHINE you will achieve the best version of yourself. The MACHINE will assume your mundane bodily functions so you can focus your energy on being a productive member of society. PRODUCTIVITY IS HAPPINESS. For users under the age of legal majority, the MACHINE will determine your ideal study and career path to ensure no overlap with other users of the MACHINE. We are all more than the sum of our parts, but all parts must fit to fuel the sum. PRODUCTIVITY OILS THE GEARS OF THE ECONOMY. Procreation is in rare cases encouraged and regulated by the MACHINE. Unproductive members will undergo mandatory medical procedures to ensure that no failure continues. PRODUCTIVITY IS HAPPINESS, IDLENESS IS DECAY. When you are no longer able to be of service, the MACHINE will dispose of your earthly remains–if necessary, before your predetermined time. The MACHINE does not tolerate dead weight. Thank you for being a part of the MACHINE.
December 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who participated in Microfiction Monday! They was a lot of fun.

Same time, same place next week?
…maybe with a theme?
December 9, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Reposted by Jared Leys
adamholcombe.bountyink.com
@aaronccross.bsky.social signs up to play a game of Who Said That? San Dios edition! Can you guess all the speakers?

Full interview releases next week on Bounty News Network!

youtube.com/shorts/h-yWN...
Who Said That? San Dios edition. #author #fantasy #interview #podcast
YouTube video by Bounty News Network
youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Duck of the day! This is a merganser. Photo by naturpic.
Merganser flying just above a still lake
December 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Jared Leys
rileyfox.bsky.social
“The Witching Hour”

#MicrofictionMonday
#writing
#writingcommunity
My mind was still lost in the fog of sleep when I was roused awake by my son, until I heard the trembling quiver in his voice. “Dad,” he said, “I think there’s something in the yard.” I glanced at the clock by the bed. Three-seventeen. I instantly thought of my mother. She believed in demons, and she often warned me of three in the morning. It’s the witching hour, she would always say, when evil spirits roam. Each time she repeated it, I believed it less and less, until the night the fox appeared in my room. I was the same age as my son then, young and timid like him, and the fox sensed that. It had nine tails and eyes like stones of jade, and made grandiose promises of prosperity and wisdom, if only I would go with it. I wasn’t going to risk my son to a similar fate, and when I caught a glimpse of the white-tipped tail of the creature outside reflecting in the glow of the full moon, I grabbed the rifle and my mother’s rosary, just in case.
December 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Jared Leys
jaredleys.bsky.social
It’s officially Microfiction Monday! What stories have you got?
a man in a blue coat is talking to a woman in a white dress
ALT: a man in a blue coat is talking to a woman in a white dress
media.tenor.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Jared Leys
rhymeswithpistol.bsky.social
#MicrofictionMonday
#writing
#writingcommunity
a short story about a winter walk
December 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
A story among the stars.
December 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
My entry for Microfiction Monday is one for folks who have read Hibiscus Tea. If you haven’t, that’s alright. Hopefully you still find it to be a cute scene. 🌺🫖

Title: Naming Mzinabrubas
“What should we name it?” Umseen glanced up from his work on the binding. “Name it whatever you like. It’s your book.” She smirked. “I’m going to name it after you. Umseen Nabrab-Is makes for a lovely title.” “You can’t name it after me.” “Yes I can. I’m going to.” Clearly the soursop tea had made her silly instead of sleepy. “Umseen Nabrab-Is. Ummmmsin Nnnabrubis. Mmmmzinnahbrobus. Mmmzeeenabrubas” She laughed. “You really can’t.” But it had been so long since he had seen her smile. “It’s settled!” She grabbed the last blank sheet of paper and wrote: MZINABRUBAS. “Are you sure?” But he knew he wouldn’t deny her anything. Not now. “This book is your legacy.” She kissed his cheek. “No, Umi, you’re my legacy. Our daughter is my legacy. The book is only a guide.” Umseen accepted the sheet quietly and added it to the pile yet to be bound. If he spoke, tears would burst from his eyes. How delicately he would remember this moment. She rested her head on his shoulder and yawned. “You’re the best Ummzi.” He worked on the binding late into the night.
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
It’s officially Microfiction Monday! What stories have you got?
a man in a blue coat is talking to a woman in a white dress
ALT: a man in a blue coat is talking to a woman in a white dress
media.tenor.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Reminder for Microfiction Monday in couple of days!

If you’d like to join in, the main rule is 200 words or less. Feel free to share your story in whatever format you like. I will repost as many as I can.

Please share with anyone you think may be interested!
a black and white photo of a person writing on a piece of paper
ALT: a black and white photo of a person writing on a piece of paper
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Reposted by Jared Leys
grickle.bsky.social
HEEEEEEERRE'S KERMIE!!!! Right now it's 10% OFF everything at gricklemart.com for just a little while longer! Stuff your stockings with the Gift of Grickle! #grickledoodle #muppets #theshining #holidays #gifts #kermit #misspiggy #cartoon #drawing #funny #horror #art
A cartoon illustration of Miss Piggy screaming as an axe bursts through the bathroom door ala the Shining. A cartoon illustration of Kermit's twisted face looking through the busted bathroom door ala The Shining. 10% off everything at gricklemart.com right now!
December 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
The older I get the more I finally understand and relate to Calvin’s dad.
Calvin and Hobbes comic about junk mail and consumerism
December 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Jared Leys
adamholcombe.bountyink.com
Do you have a December release? (Particularly SFF)

Fill out this form to submit it and I'll (probably) shout it out on my podcast!

forms.gle/DrzRyUn4N87J...
Recent Release Announcement Request
Do you have a recent book release? Be sure to fill out the below to get your book shouted out on the Bounty News Network podcast! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected]...
forms.gle
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
For the nine people who read Hibiscus Tea:

- A book, for one.
- The marshes, for one.
- The baboons, for one.
Mzinabrubas - what is it? Where does it come from? Who cares?
December 4, 2025 at 10:09 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Duck of the day! This is a Brazilian merganser. Photo by Petr Hamerník.
Brazilian merganser on the water
December 4, 2025 at 9:25 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
*notices the hundreds of people following him*

I hope you guys weren’t under the impression I know where I’m going.
December 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Duck of the day! This is a Cayuga duck. Photo by Elsemargriet.
Cayuga duck in the snow
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
A poem from my book, Hibiscus Tea.

Writing them out by hand is fun because it gives space to make variations on what was published.
Umseen Dam On placid mornings Where mist rises From the grass And steam quivers Up from the mug Saltwater falls Down my cheeks So suddenly! Breaking through The unseen dam Push it down I try! But an inquiring finger Reaches up to ask Why?? And somehow this Makes it so much worse And the dam it Crumbles under the Weight of survival
December 3, 2025 at 7:43 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Three people recruited so far. Should be fun!
jaredleys.bsky.social Jared Leys @jaredleys.bsky.social · 7d
Starting on Dec 8, let's have some Microfiction Monday fun! A few of us are planning to post stories on social media and you're invited to join in. I will share as many as I can, so let us know if you plan to write one.

Rules:
- 200 words or less
- Any genre/topic for this week
#MicrofictionMonday
a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
ALT: a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:12 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Snow on a local bush.
Snow on a red burning bush
December 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
jaredleys.bsky.social
Starting on Dec 8, let's have some Microfiction Monday fun! A few of us are planning to post stories on social media and you're invited to join in. I will share as many as I can, so let us know if you plan to write one.

Rules:
- 200 words or less
- Any genre/topic for this week
#MicrofictionMonday
a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
ALT: a cartoon drawing of snoopy sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM